ACT scores improve locally

More students are scoring an 18 or higher on the test.

Published: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:17 p.m.

More students in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes scored an 18 or higher on the ACT this year than in previous years, according to data released by the state Department of Education.

The same is true of students statewide, the data shows.

Lafourche and Terrebonne were not among the most improved school districts, but each saw positive results.

The data shows that 43 more students in Lafourche Parish scored at least an 18 on the ACT than the previous year, bringing the total for 2013 to 447 students.

Thirty-nine more students in Terrebonne Parish scored an 18 or better, for a total of 511.

The state announced this week that 3,600 more public high school seniors scored an 18 or higher on the ACT, allowing thousands more students the opportunity to attend two-and four-year state colleges without the requirement of remedial coursework.

It also gives more students the chance to earn scholarships, like the state’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS reward.

The standardized test strives to gauge students’ readiness for college-level courses. Nicholls State University requires a 21 or better on the ACT and a high school grade-point average of at least 2.35. Admission standards at Fletcher Technical Community College vary by program.

For the graduating class of 2012, about 18,000 seniors scored an 18 or higher out of nearly 26,000 with an ACT score. This year, nearly 22,000 seniors posted an 18 or higher out of about 37,000 testing, a 20 percent increase in college eligible students.

State Education Superintendent John White said this is the first year that all high school graduates were required to take the college readiness exam.

“A number of students who wouldn’t otherwise have taken the test ended up excelling,” White says in a news release. “That means more students earning TOPS Tech to take to community and technical colleges than ever before, more students earning TOPS Opportunity to take to regional colleges and more students earning TOPS Performance that they can take to statewide colleges, like ULL or like Louisiana Tech, and more students, 633 more students, earning a score that earns them admission to attend our state’s flagship university.”

Terrebonne Parish schools Superintendent Philip Martin said it’s nice to see more students scoring higher on the exam. Compared to the other parishes, he said. Terrebonne is “in good company.”

Some parishes, like neighboring Assumption Parish, saw a decrease, he added.

“We have been heavily focused on encouraging students to take more rigorous classes,” Martin said. “The path of least resistance is often more desirable for students, but we have very aggressively been pursuing (Advanced Placement) courses and high level classes oriented for kids who plan to go to college.”

The ACT is not the type of test a student can stroll into without practice and expect to ace, Martin said. It takes preparation.

Now that all graduating students are required to take the exam, he said, the district will continue to stress success.

Lafourche Parish schools Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews could not be reached for comment.

“This is about opportunity, especially for those students too long denied it,” White says in the release. “Some students may go directly to college. Some may pursue technical training. Others may enter the workforce and go back to school one day. The point is that they have these ACT scores in their pockets. Their right to continue their education can never be taken away.”

<p>More students in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes scored an 18 or higher on the ACT this year than in previous years, according to data released by the state Department of Education. </p><p>The same is true of students statewide, the data shows.</p><p>Lafourche and Terrebonne were not among the most improved school districts, but each saw positive results. </p><p>The data shows that 43 more students in Lafourche Parish scored at least an 18 on the ACT than the previous year, bringing the total for 2013 to 447 students.</p><p>Thirty-nine more students in Terrebonne Parish scored an 18 or better, for a total of 511.</p><p>The state announced this week that 3,600 more public high school seniors scored an 18 or higher on the ACT, allowing thousands more students the opportunity to attend two-and four-year state colleges without the requirement of remedial coursework.</p><p>It also gives more students the chance to earn scholarships, like the state's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS reward.</p><p>The standardized test strives to gauge students' readiness for college-level courses. Nicholls State University requires a 21 or better on the ACT and a high school grade-point average of at least 2.35. Admission standards at Fletcher Technical Community College vary by program.</p><p>For the graduating class of 2012, about 18,000 seniors scored an 18 or higher out of nearly 26,000 with an ACT score. This year, nearly 22,000 seniors posted an 18 or higher out of about 37,000 testing, a 20 percent increase in college eligible students.</p><p>State Education Superintendent John White said this is the first year that all high school graduates were required to take the college readiness exam.</p><p>“A number of students who wouldn't otherwise have taken the test ended up excelling,” White says in a news release. “That means more students earning TOPS Tech to take to community and technical colleges than ever before, more students earning TOPS Opportunity to take to regional colleges and more students earning TOPS Performance that they can take to statewide colleges, like ULL or like Louisiana Tech, and more students, 633 more students, earning a score that earns them admission to attend our state's flagship university.”</p><p>Terrebonne Parish schools Superintendent Philip Martin said it's nice to see more students scoring higher on the exam. Compared to the other parishes, he said. Terrebonne is “in good company.”</p><p>Some parishes, like neighboring Assumption Parish, saw a decrease, he added.</p><p>“We have been heavily focused on encouraging students to take more rigorous classes,” Martin said. “The path of least resistance is often more desirable for students, but we have very aggressively been pursuing (Advanced Placement) courses and high level classes oriented for kids who plan to go to college.”</p><p>The ACT is not the type of test a student can stroll into without practice and expect to ace, Martin said. It takes preparation.</p><p>Now that all graduating students are required to take the exam, he said, the district will continue to stress success.</p><p>Lafourche Parish schools Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews could not be reached for comment.</p><p>“This is about opportunity, especially for those students too long denied it,” White says in the release. “Some students may go directly to college. Some may pursue technical training. Others may enter the workforce and go back to school one day. The point is that they have these ACT scores in their pockets. Their right to continue their education can never be taken away.”</p>